Donald Filmore Ethridge
1933-2020
Donald Filmore Ethridge, 87, of Midwest City, passed peacefully, August 12, 2020, after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was a beloved dad, grandpa, brother and uncle. Don was born April 17, 1933, in Waterloo, OK to M.C. and Sally Jo (Frost) Ethridge, the "baby brother" to his six siblings. Living in the Waterloo community and Edmond until 1947, he would live in Crescent, OK with his sister and brother-in-law, Reba and Mac McClure and their family, after both his parents passed. Don graduated from Crescent High School in 1953, and began college at Central State College before joining the US Army. Don returned to Central State on the GI Bill and received his Bachelor degree in Industrial Arts in 1959 and later his Master's Degree in Education in 1965. In September 1955, he married Johanna Oltmanns and in March 1957 they welcomed daughter Donna Jo. For 27 years, Don was a teacher and mentor to his wood shop students at Jones, Harding and Del City High Schools. Later in life, many former students would thank him for making a difference in their young lives. Some of those students remained friends throughout his lifetime and would visit and check on him often. Don was a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard, serving in several capacities with the 700 th Support Battalion of the 45 th Infantry Brigade, including Company Commander of C Co and B Co, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Later, he re-enlisted and served as 1SGT and MSG in the Battalion until his retirement at age 60, and always a dedicated soldier and mentor to those in his command. He was a longtime member of the Governor's Twenty Pistol Marksman Team, bringing many championships to the battalion. His company traveled to Bolivia, Belize and Panama providing immunizations and medications for the people in those countries, and he participated in Exercise Reforger in 1987, training in Germany. Don had many hobbies in his life – championship pigeon racing for nearly 20 years, hunting, fishing, tennis and golf. Don also enjoyed attending Austin-Healey road rallies all over the United States with his 1960 Bugeye Sprite, racing his Miata at Hallett and membership with the OKC Miata Club. Don was a lifelong fan of the OU Sooner Football team traveling to games all over the country with his family. Later, he would enjoy attending the activities of his grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as much interaction with his great great nephews and nieces. He was Uncle Don to many people, related or not. Don made many loyal friends at Jimmy's Egg and Don's Alley over the 40 years he lived in Midwest City. Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Bill Ethridge and MC Ethridge, sisters Velma Dee Ethridge, Thelma Campbell, Reba McClure and Alma Gunn, and granddaughter Ashley Parks. He is survived by his daughter, Donna Parks and husband David, granddaughter Amber Johnson and husband Gabe, grandson Zachary Parks, great-grandchildren Isaac, Ian and Audrie Johnson, his life- long friend Johanna Ethridge and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Don's life will be held Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond, with social distance seating, face masks suggested. Livestreaming will be available through Matthews' website. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Positive Tomorrows, P.O. Box 61190, Oklahoma City, OK 73146 or The Regional Food Bank, P.O. Box 270968, Oklahoma City, OK 73137. We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but feel they should not due to the health environment. To watch the service CLICK HERE to go to our YouTube page. Then click on 'Videos' then 'Live Streams'.